Area 'meth lab' fugitives
captured in Cambridge

Rick Stillion
The Daily JeffersonianPublished: March 10, 2014 1:00PM

A man and woman on the run since mid-February after a "meth lab" was discovered at a Walnut Street home in Newcomerstown were arrested by Cambridge police Sunday afternoon after they were located at separate businesses in the city.

Cassandra J. Lewis, 27, Newcomerstown, was arrested by police at the Kmart store on Southgate Parkway. Jason R. Walker, 29, of Uhrichsville, was taken into custody at the Frisbee Motel on Dewey Avenue by officers executing a search warrant.

Both Lewis and Walker were served warrants charging them with the manufacture of methamphetamines. They were later released into the custody of Newcomerstown police officers after being served the warrants.

They had reportedly been on the run since Feb. 18 when the "meth lab" was discovered.

According to Cambridge police reports, officers initially received a tip that the pair were at the Kmart store.

Officers converged on the business but were advised by store personnel that Lewis and Walker had already left the business. Police requested employees contact them if either Lewis or Walker returned to the store.

Approximately 45 minutes later, officers were advised by Kmart management that Lewis was back in the store with a child. Officer again converted on the store and he was taken into custody without incident outside a changing room.

A family member came to pick up the child.

In the meantime, officers were advised Walker was at the Frisbee Motel and two officers were dispatched to watch the building.

Police reported seeing a male matching the description of Walker exit a room and upon seeing a police cruiser, quickly returned to the room.

A search warrant was obtained from Cambridge Municipal Court Judge John Mark Nicholson with assistance of Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel G. Padden.

Officers executed the warrant a short time later and forced entry to the room where Walker was reportedly staying. He was located hiding in the bathroom inside the room and taken into custody.

He was then transported along with Lewis to the Guernsey County jail.

While at the Dewey Avenue business, officers also encountered a male identified as Nicholas J. Durbin, 29, of McConnelsville. He was served with an unrelated warrant and transported to the county jail.

Lewis and Walker were identified by Newcomerstown police as suspects after officers found the "meth lab" while executing a warrant at the home in the 300 block of Walnut Street on Feb. 18.